Launch of first touchscreen kiosks for tourists in Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park
Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park may not be the first place you would expect to find broadband technology. However, from today, thanks to a joint initiative between BT Scotland, Scottish Enterprise Dunbartonshire and the National Park Authority, visitors to the National Park area will be able to access up-to-the-minute online information via Scotland’s first network of information kiosks providing free web content for visitors and residents.
The terminals have been installed across the National Park to improve the current provision of services and information for visitors. Users can access a range of services, such as instant travel information and weather forecasts and, on some kiosks, send video clips and emails to friends and family. The initiative is the first of its kind in Scotland and is part of the Scottish Executive’s ‘Broadband Enablement’ programme. In addition, the project provides key sites with WiFi technology, creating wireless broadband hotspots for visitor and resident use.
The sites of the kiosks, touchscreens and WiFi hotspots have been carefully chosen for ease of access and to avoid any impact on the native landscape. These sites include Balloch, Loch Lomond Shores, Luss, Arrocher, Aberfoyle, Balmaha, Inveruglas, Tarbet, Tyndrum, Killin and Callander. Former BT phone boxes have been upgraded to house the terminals, using BT’s existing infrastructure in the area. A further seven touchscreen display units have been fitted behind the glass windows of shops and visitor centres around the park, making use of BT’s innovative thru-glass technology.
If successful, the scheme will be rolled out to other National Parks in Scotland and across England and Wales.
Dave Anderson, chief executive, Scottish Enterprise Dunbartonshire, comments: “Tourism is a vital revenue stream for Scotland and today, together with BT and the National Park Authority, we are launching a new approach to tourism in the country. We want to encourage people from all over the UK and beyond to visit Scotland and its national parks and we believe the installation of multimedia kiosks will improve access and enhance visitor experience. What’s more, Broadband’s speed allows richer content to be offered which wasn’t available before now. Businesses within the National Park boundaries and beyond can take advantage of this connectivity to reach new audiences and offer new products and services.”
Visitors to the National Park will find a host of useful information available through the kiosks and touchscreens, which are easy to use and available all day, every day.
Bob Downes, director of BT Scotland, says: “Ground-breaking initiatives created on the back of resilient broadband networks are changing the communication landscape of Scotland. Those of us who grew up with the traditional red telephone box could never have imagined that the next generation of kiosk would be able to connect us to the high speed digital world.
“It’s the first time BT multimedia kiosks have been specifically deployed to offer online tourism applications in Scotland and I’m sure they’ll prove a major attraction for visitors, whether they’re checking up-to-the-minute tourism, weather and travel information, want to contact family back home with a picture or video e-mail or plan to send their holiday snaps of the area’s many beauty spots to friends from their own wireless device.
“In the long-term, these high tech facilities will prove a valuable asset with the potential to contribute to the economic growth of the whole area. I hope similar sites will soon follow in the footsteps of the Loch Lomond National Park in adopting technology to add to their amenities.”
Tim Edwards, director of Visitor and Operational Services, Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park, states: “Visitors to the National Park will find a host of useful information available through the kiosks and touchscreens, which are easy to use and available all day, every day. This will be extremely useful to anyone seeking information outside of normal visitor centre opening hours. The services offered have been carefully chosen to reflect the needs of Park visitors and will give alternative sources of finding accommodation, directions, attractions and local information.”
Picture Copyright © VisitScotland / Scottish Viewpoint
About BT
BT is one of the world’s leading providers of communications solutions serving customers in Europe, the Americas and Asia Pacific. Its principal activities include networked IT services, local, national and international telecommunications services, and higher-value broadband and internet products and services.
* BT consists principally of three lines of business:
* BT Retail, providing a comprehensive range of communications and related services to more than 20m UK consumers and businesses.
* BT Wholesale, providing network services and solutions within the UK to more than 600 fixed and mobile operators and service providers including the provision of broadband and private circuits.
* BT Global Services, providing networked IT services to meet the needs of multi-site organisations globally. BT Global Services operates in more than 130 countries and also offers international carrier services.
In the year ended 31 March 2005, BT Group’s turnover was £18,623 million with profit before goodwill amortisation, exceptional items and taxation of £2,085 million.
BT Group plc is listed on stock exchanges in London and New York. British Telecommunications plc (BT) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of BT Group and encompasses virtually all businesses and assets of the BT Group.
Visit BT’s website for more information.
About Scottish Enterprise
Scottish Enterprise is the main economic development agency for Scotland covering 93 per cent of the population from Grampian to the Borders. The Scottish Enterprise Network consists of Scottish Enterprise and 12 Local Enterprise Companies. Working in partnership with the private and public sectors the Network aims to build more and better businesses, to develop the skills and knowledge of Scotland’s people, and to encourage innovation to make Scotland’s businesses internationally competitive.
Media contacts
For further press information on Scottish Enterprise, please contact:
Ruth Andrew, Senior Media Relations Executive, Scottish Enterprise
Telephone: 0141 228 2717
Mobile: 07768 615 154
Email: ruth.andrew@scotent.co.uk
For more information on BT, please contact the BT Scotland press office on 08457 262624.
For further press information on Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park, please contact:
Ruth Crosbie, Public Relations Officer, Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park
Telephone: 01389 722016
Mobile: 07834 334108
Email: ruth.crosbie@lochlomond-trossachs.org